Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer

One of the better-known sex crimes is that of rape, which is defined as forced sexual intercourse without consent. A rape charge, however, can only be sustained if the act of sexual intercourse took place, any lesser acts would not fall under this offense, and before the introduction of other charges, the criminal could not be charged. Because of this statutory weakness, the offense of sexual battery was introduced to catch the sexual offenses that didn’t amount to a rape charge but were nonetheless socially unacceptable. To prove a charge of sexual battery, the prosecution must show that a sexual act occurred without consent.

Utah’s Sexual Battery Rules

By design, the legislature has drafted the sexual battery statute, or forcible sexual abuse, as it is sometimes called, to be very broad. Under the statute, mere touching to attempted rape can be considered sexual battery. One of the few things that limit the statute is that it only applies if the victim is over 14; if the victim is under 14, then the crime is that of child abuse. If a conviction is obtained, then the defendant could possibly receive up to 15 years in prison and mandatory sex offender registration. With penalties as severe as these, it is critical that you obtain legal counsel that can help protect your rights. That legal counsel can be found with the experienced attorneys at Salcido Law Firm.

We Will Fight For You!

With a broad statute such as sexual battery, the prosecution can bring charges against clients the statute was never meant to punish. As all can agree, the desire to limit sexual abuse is noble, but we don’t want to punish innocent people in the process. If you have been charged with sexual abuse, don’t hesitate to give us a call. As with most sexual crimes, the state’s protection can sometimes fall into the wrong hands. Meaning that some accusations of sexual battery could be false accusations trumped up to be used as a method of revenge. We are adamant about keeping the law from being misused and about protecting your individual liberties. Call us at 435-922-3277 or email us today to set up a free consultation. We’ll answer all your questions and let you know what we can do to help you in this difficult time.